Page 42 of Lilly

"Did you see how he looked at me? He showed me his freaking gun! And told me he has perfect aim!" He scrubs his hand over his face. "What the hell? Why does he hate me so much?"

"He doesn't hate you. He's just overprotective. I'll talk to Rachel. She's the only one who can talk some sense into him."

"We better get out of here before he comes back." He takes my hand and pulls me out of the room.

We go to the kitchen where Rachel is putting the groceries away.

"What'd you get?" I ask, eyeing all the sacks.

"Pretty much everything." She laughs. "We cleaned out the store. Your father didn't want to run out of food. You know how he loves the Fourth of July."

"It's his favorite holiday," I say to Reed.

"Because of the fireworks?"

"I'm not sure," I say, glancing at Rachel.

We both know the real answer but it's not something my dad wants people to know. The truth is that, growing up, the Fourth of July is the only holiday my dad didn't have to spend with his parents. He didn't get along with his father so holidays were always stressful because my dad would have to spend an entire day with his family. But not on the Fourth of July. His parents didn't care about that holiday so they let my dad go to his friend's house or wherever he wanted to go.

Reed starts unloading one of the sacks.

"You don't have to do that," Rachel says to him. "Pearce was just kidding. You two can go outside or do something else."

"That's okay," he says. "I don't mind helping."

My dad walks in, changed into his casual clothes, which for him is a pair of light colored pants and a crisp white cotton shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He doesn't wear shorts, even when it's really hot outside.

"I'll be out getting the chairs," he says.

"Reed, maybe you could help him," Rachel says. "Lilly and I can handle the groceries."

My dad and Reed look at each other as if they think that's the worst idea ever, but then my dad smiles briefly at Reed and says, "Follow me." He walks past Reed and out the back door.

Reed sets down the potato chip bag he was holding and glances at me.

"Go," I whisper.

He leans over and talks in my ear. "If I'm not back in five minutes, go out there and search for my body."

He's totally serious so that shouldn't be funny but I burst out laughing as he leaves.

"What's so funny?" Rachel asks.

"Reed thinks Dad is going to kill him."

She sighs. "Now what did he do?"

"He showed Reed his gun and told him you guys had been at the shooting range."

She shakes her head, smiling. "I'll have a talk with him."

"Why does he act this way? I thought you said he likes Reed."

"He does. This is just what fathers do when their daughters get serious with a boy. They test him to see how much the boy will put up with in order to be with his daughter. My father did the same thing."

"He did?" I stop unpacking groceries and sit on one of the stools along the kitchen island. "What did he do?"

"Soon after your father and I met, we took a trip to Indiana to see my parents. We'd only been there an hour and my dad was already quizzing your father, seeing if he was good enough. He took him outside by the wood pile. It was dark and there was an axe right behind him." She laughs. "I can't believe he did that. Poor Pearce. Then my dad made him chop wood, which your father had never done. The next day, which was Thanksgiving, he had Pearce out there again, chopping wood and doing chores in the barn while my mom and I made dinner."

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